Duchamp, Beuys and Murakami: A history of editions

Installation view of works by Marcel Duchamp at Galerie Perrotin
Installation view of works by Marcel Duchamp at Galerie Perrotin, Paris, in an exhibition exploring the value of ’editions’ in artistic production, Paris, 2011
(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

Galerie Perrotin has assembled the work of three provocative figures from the last one hundred years for its current exhibition in Paris to refute the persistent notion that artworks produced in editions are less valuable than one-offs.

First up is French artist Marcel Duchamp, arguably one of the earliest to look upon print series as unique works, who naturally turned to multiples because of his preoccupation with authorship. Duchamp produced 275 portable retrospective museums of his work, which he named 'Box in a Valise'. 'Everything important I have done can be held in a small valise,' he said. He also let his imagination loose on all kinds of media, including posters, invitations, telegrams and enamelled plates.

Next comes another avant-garde master, Joseph Beuys. The social and political bent to the German artist's work meant that it was important for it to be readily available in the public domain. 'I am interested by the transmission of physical vehicles in the form of editions, because I am passionate about spreading ideas,' he said. Between 1965 and 1986, he condensed his political theories into a continuous production of 567 multiples, to which he later added numerous postcards.

Contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami takes Duchamp and Beuys' lead and pushes it further still. Drawing on the Manga and Kawai (cuteness) culture in his work, he has long blurred the boundaries between high and low art, producing painting, sculpture, prints, wallpaper, animation films and accessories. He has even created his curious characters on T-shirts and balloons before using them to populate his paintings.

Duchamp, Beuys and Murakami are by no means the only artists to explore the concept of the edition - they are joined by everyone from Salvador Dali to Andy Warhol - but they did so in a wildly original fashion, convincing collectors that editions can be a vital part of a creative process. Galerie Perrotin illustrates this with a neatly curated selection of their work.

Box containing the limited edition of ’Sur Marcel Duchamp

Box containing the limited edition of ’Sur Marcel Duchamp’ by Robert Lebel, 1958
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: © Succession Marcel Duchamp / ADAGP)

Box containing the limited edition of 'Sur Marcel Duchamp'

Box containing the limited edition of ’Sur Marcel Duchamp’ by Robert Lebel, 1958
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: © Succession Marcel Duchamp / ADAGP)

Installation view of works

Installation view of works by Joseph Beuys
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

Installation view at exhibition

Installation view of works by Joseph Beuys
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

Sled in exhibition

’Sled’ by Joseph Beuys, 1969
©ADAGP, Paris, 2011

(Image credit: Collection Reinhard Schlegel)

brown Felt Suit in exhibition

’Felt Suit’ by Joseph Beuys, 1970
©ADAGP, Paris, 2011

(Image credit: Collection Reinhard Schlegel)

Sulphur-Covered Zinc Box and unguentum mettallicum praeparatum

Background: ’Sulphur-Covered Zinc Box (Plugged Corner)’ by Joseph Beuys, 1970
Foreground: ’Cuprum 0,3 % unguentum mettallicum praeparatum’ by Joseph Beuys, 1978-86
©ADAGP, Paris, 2011

(Image credit: Collection Reinhard Schlegel)

Installation view of works by Joseph Beuys

Installation view of works by Joseph Beuys
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

Installation view of works by Takashi Murakami

Installation view of works by Takashi Murakami
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

exhibition artwork

Installation view of works by Takashi Murakami
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

Installation view of artwork

Installation view of works by Takashi Murakami
Paris, 2011

(Image credit: ©ADAGP)

exhibition floral artwork

’Even the digital realm has flowers to offer!’ by Takashi Murakami, 2010
©2010 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

(Image credit: Galerie Perrotin, Paris)

colourful floral artwork at display

’With Reverence, I Lay Myself Before You - Korin-Chrysantheum’ by Takashi Murakami, 2011
©2011 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

(Image credit: Galerie Perrotin, Paris)

exhibition artwork

’727’ by Takashi Murakami, 2004
©2010 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

(Image credit: Galerie Perrotin, Paris)

Reversed Double Helix - black head brown body

’Reversed Double Helix - black head brown body’ by Takashi Murakami, 2010
©2010 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

(Image credit: Galerie Perrotin, Paris)

Hommage to Francis Bacon artwork

’Hommage to Francis Bacon (Study of Isabel Rawsthorne)’ by Takashi Murakami, 2004
©2010 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

(Image credit: Galerie Perrotin, Paris)

’Para-Kiti DOB’ titled artwork

’Para-Kiti DOB’ by Takashi Murakami, 2001
©2010 Takashi Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved

(Image credit: Galerie Perrotin, Paris)

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Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.